With my burgundy qipao, up-do and bouquet of flowers, I became the talk of the teahouse during my birthday celebration. But it was the love on my face for John, my new Chinese boyfriend, that gave my relationship away.

Did your Chinese friend or lover ever charm you with their reliability — that they would be there for you, even to see your bus off? John, my Chinese coworker, was always watching for me, as his way of showing he cared.